2008-6-13 17:31:04

Report of Dr. Hartmut Schwesinger - FrankfurtRheinMain GmbH Interview

Dr. Hartmut Schwesinger - FrankfurtRheinMain GmbH

【生物谷编者按】2008年5月28日至30日，为期三天的2008中国国际生物技术和仪器设备博览会--Biotech China2008于上海国际展览中心成功举办。本届展会吸引了许多来自国内外知名的生物技术、分析、生化及实验室技术领域的领先企业竞相参与，参会企业纷纷展示了自身最新的技术和产品，亮点频现。生物谷作为Biotech China2008的首席合作媒体，设立了独享的新闻采访间，有幸对前来参展的13家国内外知名企业进行了现场专访。我们希望本期专访系列，有助于读者更深入、更全面地了解国内外生物技术产业的现状和发展前景。（更多企业专访请见biotech-china2008新闻专访 /master/Special/BiotechInterview/Index.shtml）

May 29, 2008 - Biotech China 2008, Shanghai

About FrankfurtRheinMain GmbH International Marketing of the Region:

FrankfurtRheinMain GmbH International Marketing of the Region is a company comprised of 24 districts, towns and cities in the FrankfurtRhineMain region. The company task is to present and actively market the numerous strengths of their region. In addition, the company implements targeted measures to position the region in the global competitive environment.In order to attract foreign investors to the region, the FrankfurtRheinMain GmbH International Marketing of the Region team is comprised of internationally experienced the region to companies interested in settling in the area at location seminars and at conferences and trade fairs. In addition, they contact foreign investors and put them in touch with all the necessary contacts. This ensures that potential investors can quickly obtain the site and market information they need - from setting up a company to subsidies to infrastructure costs. Irrespective of whether these are tax and labor attorneys needed for labor and residence permits, associations, partner companies, public administration authorities or institutions. Moreover, FrankfurtRheinMain GmbH International Marketing of the Region can help you find land and suitable production or office space.

Bioon: Can you please start by telling us about the market region of FrankfurtRheinMain? What is your company about and what services does it provide to the community?

Dr.Schwesinger: We are basically an inward investment agency for the FrankfurtRheinMain region, which is the central region in Germany and with that in Europe. Of course, we are best known for the airport and great accessibility. But apart from that, the region stands out mostly for its biotech companies. In the past, the area has been referred to as the pharmacy of Europe with companies like Hoechst AG and others. Hoechst AG does not exist anymore but the companies that came out of Hoechst AG are obviously still very strong. For example, Sanofi-aventis still holds fifty percent of the research capacities in Frankfurt. So, as a region, I think with Basel, Switzerland, we are the only region worldwide that has such the full value chain in the field of biotech and pharmaceuticals. From really the basic research till the marketing step, everything is there. We have a lot of independent research institutions, we have a nobel prize winner working in one of these institutions, and as I said before, a whole lot of companies like Sanofi-aventis and Merck. In our region, you really find a very thriving and a very future oriented cluster, which is the best environment for companies that want to come to Germany or to Europe to start their business expansion. There they can find all the information, they can get all the support, they can get all the people they need. They can get very high skill people from the universities. So, I think we are an interesting region. We have a very successful innovation center that specialises in inflammatory diseases, diseases of the central nervous system and proteomics, so again there's quite an international community around this innovation center. It's again the perfect place for Chinese companies if they want to expand to all parts of the world. We have our office here in Shanghai to help them, to guide them and to give them information. We have the industrial park H?chst which supplies all the necessary infrastructure support so you don't have to invest in things that are not really related to the core of your business. Then, you can really set up there and get started. And they will supply laboratories if you want that and maintenance work even waste disposal. It is all looked after and cared for. So it is the perfect place to be.

Bioon: Why do you want Chinese companies to invest in your region, why are you trying to target them?

Dr.Schwesinger: Well, the answer is very simple. Obviously, the Chinese people are very innovative. There's a lot going on here, with a very bright future. Obviously, China is a very big market but the experience is that you can only be successful in the long term if you really expand globally, and of course there is some knowledge and some experience in our part of the world as well. So I think it should be of interest for Chinese companies to expand in our region, not only to maybe find other interested partners but also to explore the market. The pharmaceutical German market is number three in the world. So from that aspect, it is quite an interesting market.

Bioon: It seems like the perfect alliance.

Dr.Schwesinger: Indeed, we are always looking for bright people to bring us new ideas, new products. Also, you know ours is a very open society and we are very happy to have people from abroad, especially in our region which is the most international region in Germany, where English is spoken everywhere.

Bioon: So far, what do you think are the main challenges that Chinese companies have encountered when investing in Germany? And on the other hand, what are the main challenges for you while relating to the newly arrived Chinese companies in Germany?

Dr.Schwesinger: Well, one of the main challenges is that you are in a different culture. But that shouldn't be a problem for the Chinese. Chinese people are very inventive and very flexible. We help them, we get them together with their peers, with Chinese clubs and associations. We have the Chinese consulate general, which is the largest in Europe, in Frankfurt. So we are the support troops if you like. For instance the Frankfurt Biotech Alliance is an association that is bringing people together. So, I think we can do a lot to get them started. China is just a flight way from our airport, with 71 flights from Frankfurt to China on a weekly basis. So China and Frankfurt are just around the corner. Furthermore on the back of the envelope I give you the "maximum cost of failure" - which you really need if you venture abroad. You have to take into account the airfare for the person you are sending there, maybe he/ she will come back once or twice a year. You can calculate all of that. You would go into an office center, you will need to rent a small flat. So you will your maximum costs for the initial two years. Then you can send somebody there for two years to find out if the market works. As far as we know, hardly anybody did not realize that they to quite a big chance to develop their market in FrankfurtRheinMain. We have more than four hundred Chinese companies in the region, we have the largest Korean community in Europe, the Indians are also there in force, not only in the IT field but also in biotech and others. The famous Indian company Biocon just made a big investment into a company just around the corner in our region, so they are all there - FrankfurtRhineMain is very international. Easy to get in, easy to get started and the key is- easy to make profits. That's all it is about at the end of the day.

Bioon: Can you finally give us a small summary of how you can contribute to the expansion of the life science market in China?

Dr.Schwesinger: The first thing and the easiest thing is that we can help with work permits and visas, we can answer a lot of questions, we can help meeting the right people, some of which are here with us - law firms and the industrial parker. Other industrial parks in our region which offer similar services. We can also discuss where best to locate in our region. We can bring people together with the "Chinese community" because if you want to get started and you know where the Chinese speaking dentist is, or you know where you can get your eyeglasses repaired, all these things seem to be of minor importance, but if they are solved you can really concentrate on your business. Now, that you have to develop yourself, but that's what entrepreneurs normally do.

Bioon: Is there anything else you would like to state or communicate to the Chinese lifescience community?

Dr.Schwesinger: Well, I can only say that we are looking forward for a lot of companies to get started in Europe, in Germany and to come to Frankfurt. I think this is a very very promising development and I think everyone is really excited about the things that are happening here. So we are very much looking forward. And certainly it will not be the last time that we will attend a biotech fair anywhere in china.

Bioon: Thank you very much!

Dr.Schwesinger: Great pleasure!